Man City star links up with Liverpool hero and Chelsea flop by signing for Saudi club in £30m deal
Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo celebrate Man City goal
The Premier League has lost another big name to the Saudi top flight, with Manchester City ace Riyad Mahrez signing for Al Ahli.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the trend earlier this year, with top players such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic following him to Saudi Arabia this summer. Al Ahli have already captured Liverpool icon Roberto Firmino and Chelsea outcast Edouard Mendy in the current transfer window, and Mahrez can now be added to that list.
Al Ahli have spent £30million when landing Mahrez, who had two years left on his contract with City. As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the winger’s Al Ahli deal will run until June 2027.
Following the announcement of his City departure, Mahrez said: “To play for Manchester City has been an honour and privilege.
“I came to City to win trophies and enjoy my football and I achieved all that and so much more.
“I have had five unforgettable years with this football club, working with unbelievable players, fantastic supporters, and the best manager in the world.
“I’ve made a lifetime of wonderful memories and the manner of our Premier League title wins and the battles we’ve had with Liverpool and, last year, Arsenal, underlined our collective desire and mentality to be the best.
Riyad Mahrez will ‘forever’ appreciate Man City
“Manchester City will forever be a huge and happy part of my life.”
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain added: “Riyad has been a major factor in our amazing successes over the past five years and his contribution will not be forgotten.
“He is a wonderful footballer to watch and leaves us with so many great memories.
“There are few wingers that possess his levels of skill and technique in world football, and he will be missed, but everyone will wish him all the best as he begins a new chapter in his career.”
City broke their transfer record in July 2018 by spending £60m to sign Mahrez from Leicester City. He went on to register 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 games for City. During Mahrez’s five years at the Etihad, City won one Champions League, four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups.